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One year after controversy, Lafayette's Senior Services hires new supervisor

Juli Mackenzie to fill position that has been vacant since July

By Anthony Hahn

Staff Writer

Posted:
05/26/2016 07:41:06 PM MDT

Mildred Oliver, of Boulder, plays a card game with other seniors at the Lafayette Senior Citizens Center on Thursday. (Jeremy Papasso / Staff Photographer)

Almost a year after Lafayette's Senior Services Manager, Vern Swanagon, resigned in July following complaints from seniors claiming poor treatment by disrespectful staff members — including Swanagon — the program has hired Juli Mackenzie as its new supervisor after a tumultuous several months of wrangling by officials and the community.

The changes began when City Administrator Gary Klaphake announced the resignation of Swanagon during the public comments portion of a City Council meeting in July, one that was attended by dozens of seniors planning to ask the city for a change in management.

Seniors came to a meeting last year to express concerns about intimidation and disrespect from staff, strict rules that made them feel like children, declining awareness about services and lack of active-mind programs.

"We know what we have to do," Klaphake said at the meeting. "Change is afoot, and that's one of the changes. Let's just be civil about this and move on."

In 2014, the city received more than $40,000 in federal funding for the program.

As residents such as Karen Norback — who expressed her dismay toward Lafayette official's handling of the situation — began to take notice, the controversy within the program started to take shape.

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"I was really disturbed by all of it," said Norback. "All of a sudden, here was my city that I love so much with this kind of action towards our seniors. For a while, I would be at the grocery store and people would stop me and ask me if I had heard what was going on with the program, everyone realized that something wasn't right. The city has a black eye because of it."

In response to the claims, the State Unit on Aging at the Colorado Department of Human Services hosted a meeting last year where about 50 seniors expressed concerns about the program.

A letter from agency manager Todd Coffey to Curt Cheesman, who oversees Lafayette's senior services, on June 11 reflected on comments that were made during the meeting.

"Nearly every comment received identified a common theme of: intimidation; overall atmosphere that is hostile and unfriendly; fear of retaliation; inconsistent application of rules; and diners feeling they are treated disrespectfully and like children," the letter reads. "These identified issues require immediate corrective action by the city of Lafayette."

Following the letter, the board was put on forced suspension by the City Council for undisclosed reasons discussed in private meetings. The suspension was lifted in October, but members of the board remained skeptical about the impact of feedback on city decisions.

Earlier this year, Cheesman said he hoped to offer the job to one of two finalists being interviewed in January.

"We had two very different applicants. If we could have combined them, we'd have the perfect candidate," Cheesman at the time. "They were both strong in different areas, but we want to make sure we're giving the position the appropriate effort, and I felt like to do that it was necessary to open it up and give us a chance to see who else is out there."

The first call for applicants was posted in November, according to city spokeswoman Debbie Wilmot.

Lafayette's Senior Advisory Board interviewed three of the candidates, including the two finalists, and recommended that one of them be hired, said Jay Ruggeri, the board chairman at the time.

Ruggeri late last year said he did not think it was necessary to reopen the position and said that the board's recommendation would stand until administrators found someone better.

"So far, everything they've done has been all optimism so far, but no action is taking place," Ruggeri said in November. "I've been happy with the process and being included in the process, but the real test will come when they actually hire someone."

Ruggeri has since stepped down from his position on the board.

Cheesman said that the board's input was one of many factors being considered during the hiring process.

Residents such as Norback, who remained critical of the situation's handling early in the process, have begun to see signs of hope in the program's efforts to mend.

"I'm really pleased with how Mr. Cheesman has handled the hiring of the new senior services manager," said Norback. "He has taken his time to find the right person and I applaud that."

Now, almost a year after complaints were first filed and the position sat vacant, the city has hired a new supervisor: Mackenzie, who started Monday.

Mackenzie, who recently moved back to Colorado after spending the last few years working in northern New Mexico, has worked in human services for most of her life — most recently in a leadership role with DDC/Imagine!

"It's one of the largest growing populations," said Mackenzie. "It's a group that presents lots of needs and also a lot of opportunity."

As officials continue to take steps toward building goodwill within the community and among seniors taking part in the program, it will be seen as to whether they can bring back many who left amid last year's controversy.

"It appears the lunch program is much better," said Norback. "Now that it's finally getting a new supervisor over there we'll see how people deal and if they start to come back."

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